What happened
The incident occurred on 24 June 1943, involving a military transport aircraft operating out of Wendover AFB. The plane was conducting a navigation exercise with a full complement of ten personnel aboard. As the flight progressed, meteorological conditions deteriorated significantly. In response to the worsening weather, the crew elected to abort portions of the planned mission profile.
While maintaining an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet in limited visibility, the aircraft collided with the eastern slope of a peak within the Ruby Mountain Range. The impact site was located near Pole Canyon, roughly 37 kilometers southwest of Wells. Due to the failure of the aircraft to return to base and the lack of immediate contact, search and rescue operations were launched but eventually suspended after no trace of the plane or its occupants could be located.
The wreckage was subsequently discovered on the date of the accident. The investigation confirmed that all 10 occupants perished in the crash. The crew consisted of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, flight engineer, assistant flight engineer, radio operator, assistant radio operator, and two air gunners.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the accident resulted from a controlled flight into terrain. Weather reports indicated that mountain tops in the area were likely obscured by stratocumulus clouds accompanied by scattered snow showers, which contributed to the loss of visual references during the approach to the terrain.